Department of Numbers

Jefferson County Wisconsin Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Jefferson County WI was $869 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Jefferson County was $902 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Jefferson County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Jefferson County rental vacancy rates, Jefferson County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Jefferson County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Jefferson County Wisconsin (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Wisconsin Median Gross Rent $867 +0.58% +3.21%
Jefferson County WI Median Gross Rent $869 -3.12% +6.76%

Jefferson County WI Real Gross Rent Trends

Median gross rent for Jefferson County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $897 and is now $28 (3.12%) lower. At $902, real average gross rent in Jefferson County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Jefferson County WI Median, Jefferson County WI Average, Wisconsin Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Jefferson County

Date US
Median
Wisconsin
Median
Jefferson County WI
Median
Jefferson County WI
Average
2019 $1,097 $867 $869 $902
2018 $1,077 $862 $897 $860
2017 $1,043 $844 $832 $790
2016 $1,027 $840 $814 $837
2015 $1,017 $840 $845 $838
2014 $986 $826 $840 $823
2013 $953 $798 $749 $743
2012 $940 $790 $801 $753
2011 $941 $798 $815 $774
2010 $955 $799 $771 $749
2009 $960 $807 $834 $797

more history ...

Jefferson County Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2017 the rental vacancy rate for Jefferson County Wisconsin was 5.40% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Jefferson County Wisconsin

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Wisconsin 4.93% -0.46% +0.08%
Jefferson County WI

Trends in Jefferson County WI Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Jefferson County peaked in 2005 at 9.05%. Since then it has fallen by 3.65% to 5.40%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 4.31%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.09%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Jefferson County WI, Wisconsin, US

Rental vacancy rate in Wisconsin

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Jefferson County

Date US Wisconsin Jefferson County WI
2019 5.97% 4.93%
2018 6.15% 5.39%
2017 6.18% 5.20% 5.40%
2016 5.89% 4.85% 4.31%
2015 5.85% 4.67%
2014 6.32% 4.64% 8.05%
2013 6.49% 5.22%
2012 6.77% 5.48% 7.66%
2011 7.40% 5.17% 5.24%
2010 8.17% 6.16% 6.34%
2009 8.43% 5.86% 6.22%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Jefferson County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Jefferson County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 14.54% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Jefferson County Wisconsin Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Wisconsin 16.21% -0.51% -0.73%
Jefferson County WI 14.54% -1.56% -1.34%

Trends in Jefferson County WI Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Jefferson County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.16%. Since then it has fallen by 2.61% to 14.54%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Jefferson County WI, Wisconsin, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Jefferson County Wisconsin

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Jefferson County Wisconsin

Date US Wisconsin Jefferson County WI
2019 20.03% 16.21% 14.54%
2018 20.50% 16.72% 16.10%
2017 20.13% 16.57% 17.09%
2016 20.43% 16.94% 15.88%
2015 20.63% 17.08% 15.33%
2014 20.89% 17.83% 17.16%
2013 20.78% 17.67% 16.65%
2012 20.65% 17.46% 16.83%
2011 20.70% 17.60% 17.02%
2010 20.50% 17.51% 16.69%
2009 20.12% 16.99% 16.63%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Jefferson County Wisconsin

You can calculate the renter fraction in Jefferson County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Jefferson County as a fraction of total Jefferson County households. In 2019 26.83% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Jefferson County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Wisconsin 32.80% -0.06% -0.54%
Jefferson County WI 26.83% +0.15% -6.54%

Trends in the Jefferson County WI Renter Fraction

The Jefferson County household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 33.37% and is now 6.54% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Jefferson County WI, Wisconsin, US

Fraction of renters in Jefferson County

History of Jefferson County Renter Fraction

Date US Wisconsin Jefferson County WI
2019 35.89% 32.80% 26.83%
2018 36.05% 32.86% 26.68%
2017 36.13% 33.39% 33.10%
2016 36.88% 33.34% 33.37%
2015 36.97% 33.21% 30.35%
2014 36.90% 33.40% 29.84%
2013 36.50% 32.82% 28.94%
2012 36.09% 32.71% 28.29%
2011 35.42% 32.15% 26.59%
2010 34.65% 31.30% 28.73%
2009 34.13% 31.02% 29.18%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.